South Australia's Renewable Energy Target is still needed

by Greens' MLC Mark Parnell

February 13th, 2017 11:00 am

The SA Liberals’ policy of abandoning South Australia’s leadership on renewable energy would set back Australia’s contribution to tackling climate change by years, according to Greens SA Parliamentary Leader, Mark Parnell MLC.

“Liberal leader Steven Marshall makes no sense when in the same breath he accepts the science of climate change, but dismisses action to combat global warming as ideological”, Mr Parnell said.

“He can’t have it both ways. “If you accept the science of climate change, you accept the urgency. If you accept the urgency, you need to do something about it.

"Handing over State policy to the coal-loving Coalition Government in Canberra is a sure-fire way to ensure that SA takes no further action in addressing climate change for years to come. That might delight the denialists, but it should appall ordinary South Australians.

“Our State needs measures that improve both the reliability and sustainability of electricity supply. It’s not new coal or even new gas; it’s new renewable energy backed by storage. The proposed solar thermal plant at Port Augusta is one example. Pumped hydro storage near Whyalla is another. Grid scale batteries are also an option. Above, we need to fix the National Electricity Market that favours private profit over reliability and affordability.

“Passing lumps of coal around the Parliamentary Chamber might make for good television, but it makes for appalling public policy,” concluded Mark Parnell.